DR. WALLACE: Summer will be here soon, and I have my senior year of high school under control. I've also recently been admitted to my preferred college, so I finally have time for more socializing than I did during this very busy school year.

A friend suggested that I line up some blind dates. I've been on two of these blind dates so far, and although I have not yet found a close connection, each guy was fun and nice to meet.

But now I have a dilemma. I like a certain type of music and a friend set me up on a blind date to see a band that he and I both really like. I understand he's already bought tickets to the show for a week from this Saturday night.

After I gave that setup the green light, I was shopping with a friend at a clothing store. The guy working there really enjoyed talking to me, and he invited me out to dinner on that exact Saturday night. I told him yes, because I had the wrong date in my head for the concert (I thought it was the night before). Now I have two dates for the exact same night. How do I deal with this? I don't want to mess up the blind date, but the clothing store guy is looking good, and I'd really like to go to dinner with him. How do I choose one over the other? — In a Dating Dilemma, via email

IN A DATING DILEMMA: If you own up to your scheduling mistake, you may be able to go on a first date with each guy. You owe it to your blind date to follow through on going to that concert. You committed to him first, and your date even bought you a ticket to the show.

Your second guy should be able to understand that you made an honest mistake mixing up the Friday with the Saturday night. You can say you realized you have a prior commitment on that Saturday night, but you are available Friday night or either evening the next week. You might even be able to explain this in person by visiting that store again when he is likely to be working.

He should realize that you are sincere and are not trying to cancel, especially since you'll have made the effort to see him in person to explain.

I'M READY TO WORK IMMEDIATELY!

DR. WALLACE: I'm a senior in high school. I've done very well academically, and I have a very high GPA that should help my chances for college admission. I haven't gotten any acceptance letters yet, but I also haven't gotten any rejections yet.

Our school year ends on May 23, and my grades are solid in every class. I'm from a single-parent household, and my mom worries about my grades all the time.

I want to start doing some work at a local business after school. I applied for and was offered a good position that can start immediately and run through the summer. Mom wants me to wait to start until my last day of school is over.

I wish to take this job immediately to lock it up since it's a great opportunity to earn nice money plus learn valuable job skills. I've promised to save 90% of my earnings by putting them into the bank or even into short-term U.S. Treasury notes! (I study finance a lot.)

My mom is hesitant to allow me to work before the school year is out, but she did agree to let me write to you before we come to our final decision. What do you think? — Ready To Save and Learn Job Skills, via email

READY TO SAVE AND LEARN JOB SKILLS: I agree that you should be allowed to work some hours at this job right away. You did not mention how many hours a week you plan to work, but if the total is reasonable, something like 20 hours per week, then I feel you would benefit.

Not only would you be able to work very soon, but you could perhaps expand your hours there over the summer to earn and save more, plus keep learning the business skills you're interested in acquiring.

Your college applications are in, and your track record is very good. You should, of course, stay on top of your studies until you graduate. Make sure that if you do work, you study hard in your remaining free time. Let your social life and entertainment opportunities be the ones that are sacrificed first, not your studies. Once summer arrives, you'll have time to work and socialize a bit more.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at rwallace@thegreatestgift.com. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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